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National Situation Update: Wednesday, February 3, 2010

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A trough of low pressure will produce light rain and snow across the Northwest. Rainfall in the lower elevations should be under a half inch with several feet of snow possible in the mountains. A strong disturbance in the Gulf of California will produce moderate to heavy rain in southern Arizona and southern New Mexico. Rainfall could exceed an inch across southern Arizona and southern New Mexico. Snow across the mountains of Arizona and New Mexico could total 6 to 12 inches by early morning.

Midwest:
A ridge of high pressure is centered over the Mississippi River Valley. Precipitation should be limited to a few snow showers over Michigan, northern Wisconsin, and northern Minnesota. Tonight, a frontal system dropping out of the Rockies will produce a mix of rain, snow and freezing rain over western Kansas and Nebraska. Tomorrow, the wintry precipitation over Kansas and Nebraska will change to rain; the northern part of the front will produce a few inches of snow in the Dakotas.

South:
The system moving across Mexico will result in one to five inches of rain in Texas and localized flooding is expected. With morning temperatures near freezing the precipitation over the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles will include snow and freezing rain. The heavy precipitation will move into the western Gulf Coast tonight and tomorrow morning.

Northeast:
A low pressure system over the Atlantic will produce a band of snow from West Virginia to southern New England. Accumulations should be one to four inches, but some areas could receive as much as six inches. Precipitation will end over the Mid-Atlantic by this evening.
The next low pressure system may bring a chance of wintry mix to the Mid-Atlantic States by Friday. (NOAA’s National Weather Service and Various media sources)

Severe Winter Weather – January 28 and continuing

Region VI

  • The RRCC is currently at Level III (Partial Activation); 7:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. CST (12/7)
  • The Region VI IMAT operational at OK EOC.
  • FEMA is providing generator support to OK.

Oklahoma

  • Emergency Declaration FEMA-3308-EM-OK was signed Jan 30; the JFO is scheduled to open Thursday, Feb 4.
  • The state EOC activated; Extended Operations (7:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. CST) with all state ESFs and Region VI IMAT
  • 7 confirmed fatalities.
  • Approximately 70,900 customers are without power.
  • There are 31 shelters open with approximately 2,500 occupants; five warming shelters are also open.
  • FEMA has issued 42 generators and deployed 2 MDRCs to the state; 26 generators are pending installation.

Texas

  • The Texas EOC reported 3,000 customers without power in three counties.
  • Approximately 1,250 poles and miles of wires down; restoration time is unknown.
  • There is one shelter open with seven occupants.
  • All critical care facilities are on generator power. (State EOCs, FEMA Region VI & FEMA HQ)

FEMA Recovery Operations in Haiti (7.0 Earthquake)

Response and Recovery in Haiti (7.0 Earthquake)

  • The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), Office of U.S. Foreign Disaster Assistance (OFDA) is the lead U.S. Government (USG) office responsible for providing humanitarian assistance in response to international emergencies and disasters.
  • In support of the U.S. Department of State/Agency for International Development (USAID), the Federal Emergency Management Agency has been partnering with US DOD/USTRANSCOM to transport commodities to support Haiti, including more than 1.42 million meals.

Commodities that have been delivered to Rio Haina, Dominican Republic, and Port Au Prince, Haiti, to date, includes roughly:

  • 1.42 million meals
  • 24,365 blankets
  • 767,164 liters of water
  • 94,709 comfort kits
  • 7,645 cots
  • 52,606 tarps
  • 463 rolls of plastic sheeting

Potential Ice-Jam Flooding

Region I:

  • The RRCC is currently at Watch/Steady State; Maynard MOC is 24/7.

Maine:

  • State EOC is not activated – Monitoring the situation.
  • A major ice jam remains in place along the Kennebec River between Gardiner and Augusta.
  • No immediate flood threat.
  • U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Cold Regions Research and Environmental Laboratory agree that there are no immediate steps that can be taken to break up the jam.
  • Actions to be taken going into the spring:
    • Installation of automated sensors that will alert officials of ice movement.
    • Ongoing ice measurements and observations by the USGS.
    • Continuous monitoring of weather trends with the National Weather Service, looking 10 to 14 days out throughout the winter and early spring for the potential of warm weather and/or rain.
    • Local ice observations coordinated through Kennebec County EMA.
    • Briefings with local officials as needed concerning current conditions.
    • Active and constant information sharing among all parties. (USGS, State EOC, FEMA Region I & FEMA HQ)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

No activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

Today, at 2:21 a.m. EST, a magnitude 4.8 earthquake occurred near the Unimak Island Region of Alaska, approximately 68 miles SSE of False Pass, AK and 703 miles SW of Anchorage, AK. The quake was recorded at a depth of 19.8 miles. No injuries or damages were reported as a result of this event and no tsunami was generated. (USGS)

Disaster Declaration Activity

North Carolina:

On February 2, 2010, the President signed a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of North Carolina ( FEMA-1871-DR) as a result of severe winter storms and flooding, occurring December 18-25, 2009. The Declaration provides Public Assistance for 13 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide. Michael Bolch from the FCO Program has been appointed Federal Coordinating Officer.

Alabama:

On February 2, 2010, the Governor of Alabama requested a major disaster declaration as a result of extreme and prolonged subfreezing temperatures during the period of January 7-12, 2010. The Governor is specifically requesting Public Assistance for 15 counties and Hazard Mitigation statewide.

Last Modified: Friday, 05-Feb-2010 12:14:29 EST